From its initial secession from the Soviet Union through today, Ukraine has been starkly divided philosophically along several fronts. From the pro-Russia east to the nationalist factions around Kiev to the pro-EU blocs around Lviv, that division is as dramatic today as ever.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, suggested today that the divisions are so dramatic that Ukraine will never be able to function as a “unified” state as presently constructed, and needs to look at a looser federal model.
It’s certainly a problem that’s recurred in Ukrainian politics throughout the years, but whichever side is in power insists this time will be different, and is unlikely to be willing to give up more autonomy to the provinces.
Russian officials are pushing pretty hard to a constitutional overhaul in Ukraine, but tellingly weren’t so vocal about it until the ouster of the pro-Russian government. Any momentum among Western nations for reform, similarly, went out the window the moment violent protests put a pro-Western interim government in power in Kiev.
The silly thing about this is that, even removing language/ethnicity issues, even removing Russian political issues, a federalist structure with local accountability and autonomy is still pretty much an automatic 'gimmee', what region would not want some such level of federalism? Is the US once again in the position of arguing against the same set of rules and/or rights that apply to the US itself? (see it's denunciations of countries restricting 'agens of foreign power' NGOs, it's defense of ethnic supremacist Israel, etc)?
In this story: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/29/us-ukra…
Reuters gingerly avoids mentioning that in Putschist Ukraine such an activity (calling for autonomy) would be illegal and grounds for arrest. But pointing out that Russia is offering broader rights for minorities isn't quite playing with the program, so they don't explicitly point that out.
Few FACTUAL errors. Russia has always advocated federal status — always. It was clear to anyone who knew anything about Ukraine that most of the regions could get along and work together EXCEPT Galicia, the western region with the center in Lvov. Anybody I know said long time ago that the region belonged to Poland, or Belorusia, and parts to Romania or Hungary — or just independent. The former part of Austro-Hungarian empire never was comfortable with the majority of Ukrainians that spoke Russian as their language. By contrast, people of Galicia believed that only they spoke "real Ukrainian", and were determined to impose it on the 85% of population. Second, Yanukovic was NEVER a Russian person. He wanted money and gas from Russia, free trade, technology, etc. but was introducing EU style reforms that devastated Ukraine. He should have signed the EU agreement, and not be a drama queen by running to Russia for help. Russia made one mistake — offered to help. I understand being thorn between the plight of people and a pain in the side that Yanukovic was for Russia. It would have angred people if Russia refused to help, while Yanukovic just wanted a better deal with EU. US dropped in like a bull into China shop. Yanukovic would have gone back to EU. But this is more about trashing Europeans and sticking it to Russia. Russia "punished" the US behavior by taking Crimea — and now everybody is trying to figure out how to "punish" Russia.
That is the nub of the problem. The nation called Ukraine is as diverse as the Balkan peninsula with similar antagonistic differences in language, religion and culture. The uprising merely removed the overseer who was there and did not replace him with any steady unity.Too further complicate the diversity, there are large numbers of Russian speaking and Russia leaning people in the East who have become very fearful of Kiev and are in an ugly mood.
The "pro-Russian east" and the "pro-EU" west are American myths, as is the idea that these are two mutually exclusive choices. US neocons have been peddling that myth right from the start. More improtant is the tacit announcement that Russian intends to grab more of Ukraine, regardless of their claims to the contrary. They probably intend to use the election result as a pretext for annexing several Eastern provinces, which they want to see transformed into Crimea-style "autonomous" regions. Then, one by one, supposedly "pro-Russian" demonstrators will appear, followed by private mercenaries. Then, a fake "referendum" will be organised, under the intimidatory presence of the mercenaries, 99% of the electorate will vote for Russia and Putin will magnanimously accept them into the Russian Federation. Ukraine is NATO's Munich. If it fails to stop Putin, it can shut up shop. That will be a disaster for Israel. Will Israel's supporters allow that?
Do they have a choice!
As far as CNN reporting is concerned Russia has already invaded Ukraine NBC drove 1100miles and did not see any Russians on Ukraine soil god bless CNN and Foxy reporting.
Reform is not so easy, and will touch many people's interests, the difficulty is very big to push up the reform.
Why Russian insisted that Ukraine Can’t Function as a Unified State?
No one is likely to be willing to give up more autonomy to the provinces.
I think they will get another best choice.